Intermittent flow device



April 20, 1948. F. Y. DONALDSON INTERMITTENT FLOW DEVICE Filed Oct. 26,1945 Patented Apr. 20, 1948 2,440,006

, 2340,0061" INTERMIIENT FDOW- DEVICE 1 FrankIJDbneldson, Burbank,Calif.

Appliiiatimoctoben-fili, 1945; Serial Nd-6242891 r aoiaime. (o1. 131-463) 2 The primary object on. my invention;- ,isw the IQ is providedWithin the valve body l5; thereby provisionvof atdevice vforattachment-etc 'sprin--.- providingiiaachamber'=20fed by the pipel6 andkling, tirrigating randoother watering-systems of divided'zfroma chamber2i, bled by the pipe ll.

similar type, andlwh'ereby operatingacontrot of-t Aaslidlngtubular-va1ve22- reciprocates vertithel systemcmay; economically,effectively; and. 5t catly within the valve body l5in a bore 23proautomaticallybe broughthabouta videdithrou'gh 'ltha partition [8, anda bore 24 In said respect, theherein"dscribediinventionprovided.throughza-boss 25 depending from theis an improvement of thatcertain similar device bottom l2 and axiallyaligned with said'bore for which Letters Patent: No. 2202549; dated.24;? v May'28," 1940'," weregranted'me, th'e improvedlloa The valve-22is closed at its lower end by a operating means'embodieddn the presentinven-.' plugdmandheciprocates through a packing gland tion over the"foregoing" providing numerous 2f|threadedrabout thje boss25.

highly advantageous featuresfconducive to' the 'Ihe'suppen end of thechamber Zll'is closed by moreefiioientoperatiomofa deVi'cehaVingJSaid"at: caprv28'1 provided: with abore 29 having the characteristics. 16:4upper; cl-osed:and' reduced'end 36 of the valve As with myformerinvention; anobject-of "the" Ho -reciprocatingtherethrough;

present'inventionistoprovide'a-device that may; A packing gland 3|threaded about a boss like readily'be installedionexi-sting systemsasweH" portione32 of:the cap. 28 provides-a, wat r al as on new 'systems;and for: watering the 'l'awn's fortlieiupper en'd'of the valve body I 5.and gardens of private: residence==-pr0pe ty, a 20, The-' valvelzis'further reduced adjacent itsWellaszlarge"estates;golfiacoursesacountry 'club upper end: to providea'valve stem 33 having grounds andflcemetery? property; as well as-"feranrapertureku therethrou h; any and.alrirrigatingpurpos s rdfess ofA.-ifioatirodf.s35having a float 36 depending type or use. fronritsouterlend is extended through the aper-A-furtherobjectisxthezprovisionaof aadevice z5ttune' 34inb0= a' pivotedsupporting member 31 for intermittent"operationzras =.to:.-botln time=and-E j b fl pivot pin; 33 fixed i bra k t fiOW'atatedivolumeeoftflowi'and requil ifi 39fifikedctotthe=end wall ll adjacent thevalve noattention in its operating sequencer. body: I 5.:

A still further 'objectiisl theaprovision of a de The: valv e 22.1 isi'provided with an annular 4 vice-noiselessinzzoperation, simple*anddepend dot m 49 upporting a gasket 4| it b y oo andrtroubleiproot; andof v y withinithesvchamberil fli so as to seat upon the pacities f y her quin men of v valve .seatt I 9': when the :valve '22 is moveddownanc1.:all watering; orrirrigating :problems it w-i-ll amly ofnecessity haveatdiulfill; Aasmall adjustable valve 42 controls an out- Iattain these objects by the-.de'vice-=illiistratuil 35eflowofawaterafnomithe=chamber'20into the tank in the a company rd aw i 'w tfie T; A similar valve'i'43 controls an outflow of ure shown isa-xvertic alz secti'onl.taken- -ale gwater.r"from;.z,theichamber2|'into" the tank Tl center lineof' the inventiong: and :-wherein:-nu=--through t b 44, merals of?referenceeindicate component parts ofiAtgasketifiiassures'twwater-ztigm fitting of a, the invention:The:latter is illustrated as em 4o,plug::' 46- provided; Mia-threadedaperture 41 bodying-amainwcontroltank Thaving sid wallsthroughazthevbottomo M-i'gf th wt k Tl, said I0; end wallszl I;andaebottomdfi plug-4651s:elongatedazunintovlthe tank TI to form Atimintank Tf is -provided within themain" aavertical-ly, disposedspost 48;and'a: float 49 is control tank 'I by 'providing ancrosswall I3* and:positioned. about said post 48 so as to reciprocate a second bottonr' I4 adjacent one-end'-" of the -vertically within'thetank Tl tank T."Aovalverrstemx5ll reciprocates' vertically in a A valve body"v I5isshown asformed integral' boree5lw-provi'ded"through"thepost 48 and thewith the' other end of the-tank I'j but'rm'aygasg stemaSll hasean:adjustabl'e nut 52 at its upper readily :beattached "toi'said'tankinianybth'er endxand-razzdlskrvalve 53'iat its lower end designedsuitable manner." 0 to seat uponia valveseatfifl formed by a' sleeve Aninlet pipe lfi fromt theesourceroflwaterfl 55 threaded into an aperture56 providedthrough supply and-an outletpipe I'F'to theirrigation,-\thebottom na fixture (not shown) are connectediiito theuvalvei Agasketil provides azwater seal between the body l5. s1eeve-55=and thebottom-12.

A horizontal partition. I 8 'forming- ,a valveseato w water passage '1way is:-providedf: from: the:-

vvalve 66 within the tank TI,

at its center on a pin 65 fixed in a bracket 66 attached to the Wall l3.

The other end of the rocker arm 64 is pivotally connected by a pin 61 toa depending float stem 68 extended through a supporting,

bracket 69 and carrying a float 10 at its lower end.

4 49 to permit the valve 53 to close. However, the float 16 is sopositioned that the valve 60 will not be opened until the water in tankT will be lowered to a pre-fixed level so that sufl'icient time willelapse for all water to run out of tank T before the closing of thevalve 53.

After said valve 53 closes, the float 10 will remain down and the valve6!] will remain open a suflicie nt length of time for the water to runout of tank'Tl. Thereafter will begin a new cycle of operation, for,with the Valve 53 closed, and water again trickling into tank T, andwith valve 66 open until the water has again filled the tank Tsufliciently to lift the float '16 and to close The bracket 62 is fixedto the tank Tl side of v the wall I 3, and the bracket 69 is fixedto thetank T side of said wall I3, thus positioning the and the float 10 inthe tank T.

Apertures II are provided through the valve 22 so that when the valve isopen, water may enter the interior of said valve from the'chamber 26.Likewise apertures 12 are provided through the valve 22 so that whensaid valve is open, water may exit from the interior thereof into thechamber 2|.

In its operation, the device is extremely simple. At the beginning ofits operation, the main control tank T and the timing tank Tl are bothempty and the floats 36, 46 and 16 are all at the bottom of therespective tanks. The valve 42 is then adjusted so that the timerequired to fill tank T will be the time desired to have the water shutoff from the pipe I! and the irrigation fixture (not shown).

The water will then drip or trickle from the valve 42 and gradually fillthe tank T until the float 36 rises to approximately the position shownin the drawing, which will in turn raise the valve 22 and permit waterto flow from the pipe I6 and the chamber 20 through the apertures H intothe interior of the valve 22 and in turn out through the apertures l2into the chamber 2| and into the outlet pipe 11.

Prior to the time required to lift the float 36 to its upper limit, thefloat 10 has been lifted to tilt the rocker arm 64 and thereby close thevalve 66.

Water under pressure in the chamber 2| will thereupon pass through thevalve 43 which has been adjusted so that the water will trickle throughthe tube 44 into the tank TI. The adjustment of said valve 43 willdetermine the time to fill the tank TI which will be the time desiredfor the water to be flowing through the pipe H.

The float 49 will raise during the filling of the tank Ti, and at nearthe end of the time desired for the water to be flowing through the pipell, the float 49 will contact the nut 52 and thereby lift the valve 53from its seat and empty the tank T.

As the water is lowered or recedes in tank the float 36 will recedetherewith and in turn cause the valve 22 to lower until the apertures iiand 12 are closed within the bores 23 and 24 respectively, and thegasket 4| is seated upon the valve seat l9, thereby shutting off thewater from pipe ll.

As the float 36 approaches its lowermost position, the float 10 willalso lower or recede until the valve 60 is opened, and thereby empty thetank Tl which will in turn lower the float said valve, an additionalperiod of elapsed time will cause theincoming water to further raise ithe float 36 to the position shown in the drawing.

Thereafter, the cycle of operation as herein described willautomatically repeat itself and continue as long as it is so desired. 7

Experience with the device has amply demonstrated the fact that it willdo all that is claimed for it. Moreover, it has been found that due tothe elongation of the tubular valve 22, a cushioning effect is producedthat prevents pounding in the apparatus, so as to render its operationnoiseless.

Readily produced from materials the open market affords, and at no greatcost, the device unquestionably provides a highly satisfactoryintermittent flow watering medium.

I am aware that slight modifications may from time to time be made inthe details of structure illustrated without departing, however,

from the scope of the herein invention, and as defined in the claimswhich are appended hereto. Hence, I do not limit my present invention tothe exact description or embodiment of structure herein disclosed, butwhat I do claim is:

1. In a device for controlling the flow of liquid under pressure from asupply line into a service line, a main control tank, a valve chamberassociated with said tank and having an intake port for connection withsaid supply line, an outlet port for connection with said service line,and a valve seat between said ports; a main valve member constructed andarranged to permit flow through said chamber from the intake port tosaid outlet port when lifted off said seat and to shut off such flowwhen seated on said seat, means for continuously supplying liquid tosaid main control tank from said intake port, a float operated meansarranged to unseat said main valve member when the level of liquid insaid tank rises above a predetermined level and to seat said valve whenthe liquid level in said tank lowers to a predetermined point, said tankhaving a discharge opening, a main tank discharge valve for controllingsaid discharge opening, a timing tank associated with said main tank andhaving a discharge opening, a timing tank discharge valve forcontrolling the discharge opening of said timing tank, means operableonly when said main valve is unseated for supplying liquid to said tim-.ing tank, a float operated means constructed and arranged for openingsaid main tank discharge valve when the level of the liquid in thetiming tank reaches a predetermined high point and'for closing said maintank discharge valve when a predetermined amount of liquid has beendischarged through the discharge Opening of said timing tank, and afloat operated means in said main tank constructed and arranged toclose-the timing tank discharge valve before the liquid in the main tankreaches the level at which the main valve is unseated and to maintainsaid timing tank discharge valve closed after said main valve isunseated, and finally operating to open said timing tank discharge valvewhen the level of the liquid in said main tank is lowered to apredetermined point following the .opening of said main tank dischargevalve, whereby the time required to fill the timing tank to the level atwhich the main tank discharge valve is opened is the approximate timeduring which the main Valve is unseated and the time required forfilling the main tank to the level at which the main valve is unseatedis the interval of time during which the main valve is seated.

2. In a device for controlling the flow of liquid under pressure from asupply line into a service line, a main control tank, a valve chamberassociated with said tank and having an intake port for connection withsaid supply line, an outlet port for connection with said service line,and a valve seat between said ports; a main valve member constructed andarranged to permit fiow through said chamber from the intake port tosaid outlet port when lifted on said seat and to shut off such fiow whenseated on said seat, means for continuously supplying liquid to saidmain control tank and from said intake port, a fioat operated meansarranged to unseat said main valve member when the level of liquid insaid tank rises above a predetermined level and to seat said valve whenthe liquid level in said tank lowers to a predetermined point, said tankhaving a discharge opening, a main tank discharge valve for controllingsaid discharge opening, a timing tank associated with said main tank andhaving a discharge opening, a timing tank discharge valve forcontrolling the discharge opening of said timing tank, a conduitreceiving liquid from a point in said valve chamber between said seatand said outlet port for conducting liquid to said timing tank, a floatoperated means constructed and arranged for opening said main tankdischarge valve when the level of the liquid in the timing tank reachesa predetermined high point and for closing said main tank dischargevalve when a predetermined amount of liquid has been discharged throughthe discharge opening of said timing tank, a float operated means insaid main tank constructed and arranged to close the timing tankdischarge valve before the liquid in the main tank reaches the level atwhich the main valve is unseated and .to maintain said timing tankdischarge valve closed after said main valve is unseated, and finallyoperating to open said timing tank discharge valve when the level of theliquid in said main tank is lowered to a predetermined point fiollowingthe opening of said main tank discharge valve, whereby the time requiredto fill the timing tank to the level at which the main tank dischargevalve is opened is the approximate time during which the main valve isunseated and the time required for filling the main tank to the level atwhich the main valve is unseated is the interval of time during whichthe main valve is seated, and an adjustable valve in said conduit forvarying the volume of liquid being supplied to the timing tank to varythe time during which the main valve is unseated.

3. In a device for controlling the flow of liquid under pressure from asupply line into a service line, a main control tank, a valve chamberassociated with said tank and having an intake port for connection withsaid supply line, an outlet port for connection with said service line,and a valve seat between said ports; a main valve member constructed andarranged to permit flow through said chamber from the intake port tosaid outlet port when lifted off said seat and to shut on such flow whenseated on said seat, means for continuously supplying liquid to saidmain control tank from a point in said chamber between said seat andsaid intake port, a float operated means arranged to unseat said mainvalve member when the level of liquid in said tank rises above apredetermined level and to seat said valve when the liquid level in saidtank lowers to a predetermined point, said tank having a dischargeopening, a main tank discharge valve for controlling said dischargeopening, a timing tank associated with said main tank and having adischarge opening, a timing tank discharge valve for controlling thedischarge opening of said timing tank, a conduit connected at its endsto said valve chamber and said timing tank in such manner that it isoperable only when said main valve is unseated for supplying liquid tosaid timing tank, a float operated means constructed and arranged foropening said main tank discharge valve when the level of the liquid inthe timing tank reaches a predetermined high point and for closing saidmain tank discharge valve when a predetermined amount of liquid has beendischarged through the discharge opening of said timing tank, and afloat operated means in said main tank constructed and arranged to closethe timing tank discharge valve before the liquid in the main tankreaches the level at which the main valve is unseated and to maintainsaid timing tank discharge valve closed after said main valve isunseated, and finally operating to open said timing tank discharge valvewhen the level of the liquid in said main tank is lowered to apredetermined point following the opening of said main discharge valve,whereby the time required to fill the timing tank to the level at whichthe main tank discharge valve is opened is the approximate time duringwhich the main valve is unseated and the time required for filling themain tank to the level at which the main valve is unseated is theinterval of time during which the main valve is seated, and adjustablemeans for varying the volume of the continuous supply of liquid fromsaid valve chamber into said main tank.

FRANK Y. DONALDSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 748,046 Byers Dec. 29, 1903976,870 Guyton Nov. 29, 1910 2,202,549 Donaldson May 28, 1940

